Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries has been apprehended on federal charges of sex trafficking, along with two other individuals, as confirmed by a spokesperson for federal prosecutors. The specifics of the accusations have not yet been disclosed, but they follow a series of claims of sexual misconduct that have surfaced over the years through civil suits and media reports. Young individuals have alleged that Jeffries enticed them with promises of modelling opportunities only to exploit them in sexual activities.
Brian Bieber, Jeffries’ lawyer, indicated that a comprehensive response to the allegations would be provided once the indictment is unveiled, preferring to address the matter within the legal setting rather than through the media. Information regarding legal representation for the other suspects is not currently available. Brooklyn-based U.S. Attorney Breon Peace, alongside FBI and police officials, are scheduled to conduct a press briefing later to shed more light on the situation.
Jeffries departed from Abercrombie & Fitch, headquartered in New Albany, Ohio, back in 2014. A legal case filed in New York last year implicated Abercrombie of permitting Jeffries to orchestrate a sex-trafficking ring during his lengthy tenure with the company. The lawsuit asserted that Jeffries deployed modelling scouts to recruit victims online, leading to some aspiring models falling prey to sex trafficking schemes.
In response to similar allegations that surfaced in a BBC report, Abercrombie announced the initiation of an independent investigation by an external legal firm. The BBC probe featured testimonies from a group of men recounting their encounters at gatherings where sexual acts were alleged to be staged by Jeffries and his partner, Matthew Smith, in various locations such as New York, London, Paris, and other cities.
When the lawsuit was filed in New York the previous year, Bieber declined to comment on the accusations. The arrest of Jeffries and his counterparts on sex trafficking charges has sparked widespread interest and concern within the fashion and business communities. The unfolding developments in the case are awaited with anticipation as the legal proceedings progress.